Fuel oil burner



March 27,1934. w. H. CLAWSON 1,952,236

FUEL OIL BURNER Filed May 15, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 j fi/ 1: I 1016 w f 2/ INVENYYJJZ W122) (2 fllawsmz March 27, 1934. w. H. CLAWSON FUEL OIL BURNER Filed May 15, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Ah 9 w a 4 4 a 7 /4 3 y m V 0 w H Patented Mar. 27, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FUEL OIL BURNER Walter H. Clawson, Norristown, Pa.

Application May 15, 1931, Serial No. 537,624

3 Claims. (01. 299-440) My invention relates to new and useful improvements in a fuel oil burner, and more particularly to a type of burner or atomizer using steam or air under pressure as the atomizing fluid and has for one of its objects to provide an exceeding- 1y simple structure which will be effective in operation.

Another object of the invention is to produce a fuel oil burner in which a number of small jets 0 of escaping steam or air, preferably of circular cross section, pick up and carry with them fuel oil which is fed thereto under pressure between two plates whereby said oil is caused to flow ra dially toward the center of the nozzle.

The much higher velocity of the steam or air relative to that of the oil causes the latter to be entrained by the fluid jets in minute particles without breaking the continuity of said jets and is thus carried into the furnace in a form suitable for quick and thorough combustion.

These actions are effected by two nozzle plates suitably spaced to provide a mixing chamber between them and to which the oil is supplied under pressure, therefore another object of the invention is to provide two nozzle plates located in spaced relation and having aligned orifices for the passage of the jets of atomizing fluid and the inner nozzle plate having other orifices beyond the first mentioned ones for the passage of oil into the mixing chamber.

The orifices through which the atomizing fluid or the mixture of atomizing fluid and oil flows may have any desirable shape or taper best designed to spread each jet and thus reduce the velocity to provide a good admixture with the in coming draft air for proper combustion.

The nozzle plates preferably having spherical curvature about a common center allowing the nozzle orifice to discharge in diverging directions thereby permitting thorough mixing with the draft or combustion air admitted around the burner and giving a short soft flame of solid cone shape free from cutting actions on the furnace walls.

The nozzle plates may be rigidly connected so as to form a single member or they may be arranged in a unitary structure so that the outer plate will be movable relative to the inner one with suitable means for maintaining the alignment of the nozzle orifices when in working position and therefore a further object of the invention is to provide inner and outer nozzle plates, means for maintaining the alignment of said plates and means to move or permit movement of one of said plates relative to the other, where-V by the size of the mixing chamber can be varied, one of the plates removed from the other, or blowoff outlets opened and closed for purposes which will be fully set forth in the specification.

Where blow-off outlets are utilized any foreign matter contained in the oil which may accumulate in the mixing chamber due to failure of strainers and which may be too large to pass through the nozzle orifices can be readily and quickly removed, and therefore a still further object of my invention is to provide means for blowing off accumulations of foreign matter in the mixing chamber between the nozzle plates.

With these and other ends in view, this invention consists in the details of construction and combination of elements hereinafter set forth and then specifically designated by the claims.

In order that those skilled in the art to which this invention appertains, may understand how to make and use the same, I will describe its construction in detail, referring by numerals to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this application, in which:--

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a fuel oil burner constructed in accordance with my improvements, a portion thereof being broken away to show the connections for the atomizing fluid and the oil.

Fig. 2 is an end view without the nozzle operating lever and operating screw.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the outer end of the burner only on the line 33 of Fig. 2, and showing the outer nozzle plate in an outwardly adjusted position.

Fig. 4 also is a sectional view of the outer end of the burner on the line 44 of Fig. 2, with the outer nozzle plate retracted.

Fig. 5 is an end view of the inner nozzle plate.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view of a modified form of oil burner construction.

Fig. '7 is an end View thereof.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view of a further modification.

In carrying out my invention as herein embodied, 10 represents a tubular body or barrel exteriorly threaded at both ends and on one of said threaded ends is mounted a fitting 11 provided with a boss 12, preferably at one side, through which is formed the oil inlet opening 13 and said boss is preferably internally threaded for connection with a fuel supply pipe.

The fitting 11 is further provided with a stufiing box or packing gland 14 through which projects a tube 15 for connection at its outer end with an atomizing fluid supply and leakage about said tube is prevented through the use of suitable packing 16 held in place by the follower 17 and said follower is adjusted and held in place by the gland nut 18 having threaded connection with the stufiing box or packing gland.

On the opposite end of the tubular body or barrel 10 is mounted the nozzle structure 19 which may include an inner nozzle plate 20 provided with a neck 21 having threaded connection with the body or barrel 10.

When the inner nozzle plate is in place, the inner end of the tube 15 is connected, preferably by threads, with said inner nozzle plate and said tube leads to or forms a communication with the orifices 22, of which there is any desirable number, and these orifices may be of any desirable shape or taper and are preferably set at angles to one another and the angles thereof are such that imaginary axial lines converge to the point somewhere within the nozzle structure in the axis of said nozzle structure.

- That part of the inner nozzle plate in which the orifices 22 are formed preferably extends or projects beyond the shoulder 23 and said project- 7 ing part is preferably a segment of a sphere.

The outer ends of the orifices 22 may be surrounded by bosses 24 extending from the exterior face of the spherical formation. In order to provide a communication between the interior of the neck 21 or the body 10 and the outer face of the inner nozzle plate a number of ducts 25 formed through the said inner nozzle plate, and more particularly the head thereof, which may lead into a circumferential groove 26.

On the inner nozzle so as to practically surround the same is mounted an outer nozzle plate 27 for longitudinal sliding movement and in order to prevent rotary movement of one nozzle plate relative to the order they are splined to each other, as by a key 28 mounted in the inner nozzle and registering with a keyway 29 in the skirt of the outer nozzle plate. Said outer nozzle plate also preferably has a spherical curvature corresponding to the curvature of the inner nozzle plate or in other words, the spherical curvatures 45" jets will be discharged in diverging directions.

On the interior of the outer nozzle plate 27 is formed an internal shoulder 31 for cooperation with the shoulder 23 when the outer nozzle plate is retracted and back of the shoulder 31 is formed a number of blow-off outlets 32 opening to the perimeter of the outer nozzle plate or more particularly the skirt thereof.

When the outer nozzle plate is in its retracted position as shown in Fig. 4, the shoulders 23 and 31 are in engagement and the blow-off outlets 32 are covered or closed by the head of the inner nozzle plate and the space between the two nozzle plates, which for convenience of description only is termed a mixing chamber and indicated by the numeral 33, has only the orifices 30 leading therefrom but when the outer nozzle plate is protracted as shown in Fig. 3, the blow-off outlets 32 will be uncovered and a sufficient volume of atomizing may be let into the mixing chamber 33 so as to blow-out any foreign matter from the mixing chamber through the blow-off outlets 32 which are of greater size than the orifices 30.

In order to provide for easy operation of the adjustable outer nozzle plate, I provide a bifurcated bell crank lever 34 pivoted to some suitable part of the burner structure, such as the fitting 11, and with a screw 35 threaded through one of its ends and impinging on the fitting 11 and said screw may be provided with a suitable handle 36 which may be a wheel or other device. To the bifurcated end of the bell crank lever are pivoted the inner ends of the links 37 while the outer ends of said links are pivoted to the outer nozzle plate 27 by screws 38 or equivalent means.

The operation is as follows:The atomizing fiuid passing through the tube 15 will be projected, due to its pressure through the orifices 22 and 30in a number of small jets and the oil which is fed through .the body is and then through the ducts 25 into the mixing chamber 33 to said mixing chamber and due to suitable pressure behind it said oil is caused to fiow radially inward toward the center of the nozzle structure and will be entrained by the jets of atomizing fluid at all points on the periphery of said jets of atomizing fluid. This entrainment of the oil is caused by the much higher velocity of the atomizing fluid and is accomplished without breaking the continuity of the jets. Because of the shape of the orifices each jet will be spread outward so as to reduce the velocity and provide a good admixture with the draft or combustion air admitted around the burner within the heating appliance to which the burner is connected and because of the diverging flow of the jets a short soft flame of solid cone shape is produced which does not have the usual cutting action on the walls of the heating appliance.

If found desirable, the nozzle plates may be formed as an integral unit as shown in Fig. 6, but removably mounted on the body 10 and tube 15 or on said tube 15 and a sleeve 39 which is removably mounted on the body 10.

In this particular form of the invention, the inner nozzle plate 40 has threaded connection with the tube 15 and is provided in its outer end with a number of orifices 41 of any desirable shape and set at any desirable angles to the axis of the burner or nozzle structure. Formed integral with the inner nozzle is an outer nozzle plate 42 for threaded connection with the sleeve 39 which may be constructed as a part of the body 10 and in the outer face of said outer nozzle plate is formed a circular groove 43 and those walls which form the outer circumference of said groove are flared outward to correspond to the angular arrangement of the orifices 41 and other orifices 44 which are formed in the outer nozzle plate and communicate with the groove 43.

Between the two nozzle plates is formed an annular slot so as to partially separate the two nozzle plates and provide a mixing chamber 45 between the two sets of orifices 41 and 44. A lug 46 is produced by the formation of the circular groove 43 and is of such dimensions as to extend beyond the outer face or end of the outer nozzle plate and the terminal of said lug is shaped to provide a tool hold 4'7. It is here shown as square in cross section but it will be obvious that it might be of any other design and could be constructed to receive a spanner wrench, a key or screw driver. The operation of the form of the invention illustrated in Fig. 6, is similar to that described with relation to the first mentioned form but when it becomes necessary to clean the burner or remove any foreign matter which may accumulate in or about the mixing chamber 45, the nozzle structure is removed from the sleeve or body and the tube or said nozzle structure may be removed with the sleeve thereon. In either case after the nozzle structure has been removed, access can be had to all the parts thereof for cleansing purposes. Since the two nozzle plates are constructed as an integral unit the orifices in said plates will always remain in proper alignment.

The modification in Fig. 8, is somewhat similar to the structure shown in Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive, particularly with respect to the inner nozzle plate and also since the two nozzle plates are separate elements. In this form of the invention, 48 designates the inner nozzle plate having a neck 49 for connection with the tubular body or barrel 10 and has a number of orifices 50 in communication with the tube 15 which is threaded into the inner nozzle plate.

That part of the inner nozzle plate in which the orifices 50 are formed preferably extends beyond the rest of the plate and just back of this is formed a shoulder 51 which, if desirable, may be raised relative to another shoulder 52 so as to form a hub for the reception of the outer nozzle plate 53 having a flange 54 for coaction with the shoulder 52 and also having a shoulder 55 for coaction with the shoulder 51 when the two nozzle plates are in cooperative positions.

The outer nozzle plate 53 has orifices 56 formed therethrough in coaxial alignment with the orifices 50. The orifices in both nozzle plates may be of any suitable shape or taper designed to spread the jets of fluids passing therethrough for reducing the velocity after leaving the burner. Those parts of the nozzle plates carrying the orifices preferably form spherical curvatures about a common center so that the fluid is discharged in diverging directions which, for reasons already stated, I have found to be the most desirable.

While the several shoulders cause the two nozzle plates to be placed in certain relative positions, I have found that other means is necessary to positively maintain the alignment of the orifices in the two nozzle plates and therefore I provide a pin 57 which is set in the inner nozzle plate and projects through a hole in the outer nozzle plate.

A union nut 58 embraces the rim of the outer nozzle plate and has threaded connection with the inner nozzle plate for holding the two nozzle plates together until such time as it is necessary to disconnect one from the other for cleaning purposes. The nozzle plates are so mounted relative to each other that a thin or small space is left between them to form a mixing chamber 59.

From the foregoing description it will be obvious that when the nozzle plates are in operative position the relatively narrow or thin space between them forming what I choose to term the mixing chamber, will cause oil to flow from the oil ducts 60 radially through the mixing chamber in a thin sheet so as to be entrained by the jets of atomizing fluid in minute particles without breaking the continuity of said jets. This is highly essential for expeditious mixture with the draft air to bring about thorough combustion so that all the heat possible is obtained from the fuel oil. The structure described also makes it possible to easily and quickly clean out any accumulations of foreign matter within the mixing chamber, being especially true of the construction illustrated in Figs. 1 to 5, inclusive, where it is only necessary to shut off the supply of fuel oil and project the outer nozzle plate as shown in Fig. 3, for opening the blow-off outlets and then turning on the atomizing fluid which will enter the mixing chamber and carry off any foreign matter through the blow-off outlets.

Of course, I do not wish to be limited to the exact details of construction herein shown and described as these may be varied within the limits of the appended claims without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and useful is:-

1. In a device of the kind described, an inner nozzle member having a spherically curved wall in which a number of orifices are formed, and further having oil ducts passing therethrough in locations about the orifices, a tubular body to which said inner nozzle member is connected and in communication with the oil ducts, means by which oil may be fed to said body, a tube passing through the body for connection with a source of atomizing fluid connected with the inner nozzle member for connection with the orifices only, an outer nozzle member also having a spherically curved wall with orifices therein for axial alignment with the orifices with the inner nozzle member, said outer nozzle member having blow-off outlets therein, said nozzle members being mounted relative to each other to provide a thin mixing chamber between them and said blow-off outlets being normally closed by the inner nozzle member so long as the outer nozzle member is retracted but adapted to be opened when the outer nozzle member is protracted, and means to cause the nozzle members to assume relative positions which will maintain the axial alignment of the orifices when the nozzle members are in operative condition.

2. The structure set forth in claim 1, in combination with means adapted to be manually operated for protracting and retracting the outer nozzle member.

3. In a device of the kind described, an inner nozzle member having a spherically curved wall in which a number of orifices are formed, and further having oil ducts passing therethrough in locations about the orifices, atubular body to which said inner nozzle member is connected and in communication with the oil ducts, means by which oil may be fed to said body, a tube passing through the body for connection with a source of atomizing fluid connected with the inner nozzle member for connection with the orifices only, an outer nozzle member also having a spherically curved wall with orifices therein for axial alignment with the orifices with the inner nozzle member, said outer nozzle member having blow-off outlets therein, said nozzle members being mounted relative to each other to provide a thin mixing chamber between them and said blow-off outlets being normally closed by the inner nozzle member so long as the outer nozzle member is retracted but adapted to be opened when the outer nozzle member is protracted, and means for detachable connection to the inner nozzle member and cooperating with the outer nozzle member to removably connect said nozzle members together. 

